Communication within the workplace can be a hassle if you don’t find ways to both streamline it and make it engaging as well.

With more people contracting in and out and working from home or other off-site locations, workplace efficiency may suffer from a lack of coherence and community. Fortunately, as much as mobile technology has made it easier to work with people you may never see, it also makes it easier to have some sort of human contact with them.

As with all communications, the keys to effective workplace interactions are elements such as clarity, directness, respect, openness, honesty, and appropriateness. While it may be tempting to hide behind screens and cubicle walls, the technological advances in workplace communication make it just as easy to be forthright and forward thinking.

In terms of actual practices that support workplace communication, the following are quickly rising to the top of the list:

1. Technology adoption: As more and more individuals and industries become technologically literate, opportunities for efficiency build as well. Today, over 92% of office workers in the U.S. rely on technology to increase productivity, and that number continues to grow daily!

2. Messaging that is searchable: As the use of technology increases and the cloud-based stacks of information continue to grow exponentially, so too does the ease with which information can be found. Recent studies have shown that companies that make use of these virtual libraries and information clearinghouses and that use the latest search systems can reduce the amount of time needed to access information by up to 35%.

3. Using Mobile Apps: As over 65% of American adults own and are familiar with the proper use of smartphones, these relatively tiny tech tools are more apt than ever to be used for accessing and sharing information. From personal ideas to medical records, we carry a greater part of our lives in our pockets every day, and most of us are more ready than ever to open up our digital wallets in order to spend a bit of information capital.

4. Connecting Co-Workers through technology: As social media structures continue to proliferate and adapt to user needs, there are more ways than ever to connect personally and professionally. And while some may feel a bit overwhelmed by the choices, the self-sorting appears to be carrying on apace, with different options proving to be more or less appropriate for different uses. For example, while LinkedIn and even FaceBook may work for initial introductions, foolish it would be to send your annual report on SnapChat. All that being said, social media connections improve workplace productivity by 25% and are a great way for contractors and distance workers to stay involved and informed, just as if they were in the next cube.

5. Thinking Analytically: While we may all be aware that, technically speaking, our employers can access and analyze any communication platforms through their servers and systems, very few actually take the time. Almost 60% of companies in today’s enterprise relying on intranet usage don’t measure communication.

After all, even if an employee is working on-site at a company, it may not mean they are working for the company. Such lapses in productivity and inappropriate uses of company equipment and materials cost productivity. Equitable analysis can help stem such concerns. Also, analyzing when certain pieces of equipment (e.g., computers, servers, photocopiers, etc.) are being used can also help the bottom line, even if nobody’s bottoms are involved.

6. Employee Engagement: It is not enough to have the ability to connect and communicate with employees, and to direct or encourage them to connect with each other. You need to DO it! Despite the boom in social media and human capital developments, 70% of all employees are NOT actively engaged with their companies and co-workers on a regular basis.

While the Labor movement garnered us all the right to weekends when employees are on the clock – whether or not they can see the clock on the CEO’s desk or in the employee lounge – they need to be actively engaged, not just in the work, but also in the culture. Making employees feel a part of something vital and exciting keeps them interested, invested, and in the company.

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http://crowdcomfort.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/horizontal-logo-4.png00crowdcomforthttp://crowdcomfort.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/horizontal-logo-4.pngcrowdcomfort2016-06-01 19:34:332016-09-14 15:49:20The Six Factors that make Workplace Communication a Breeze!